logo

My Handcrafted Opinions on Whiskies, Distilleries and Other Related Stuff

Most Recent Whisky

Most Recent Whisky Review

Woodford Reserve Distillers Select Straight Rye

This bottle was labelled #3031 from Batch 0887 and bottled at 45.2% ABV.  The nose was very nice, herbal tea with mint and sweet vanilla notes.  The mouthfeel is fresh, light and oily, bittersweet on palate with more vanilla, candy, black coffee and dark chocolate.  The finish has peppermint, wood and grassy rye notes.  With water it gets sweeter, even honeyed, while heat builds in the finish with chilli spiced dark chocolate.  Overall very delicious; a light and subtle of straight rye.

Read More
  • Simon Seaton

    Simon Seaton

    Monday, 02 January 2023 17:15

    Tamnavulin Double Cask

    It seems hard tt beleive (to me at least) that I have never written any tasting notes for this Speysider.  I am sure I have tried it before but never put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard). I may have also been confused by the number of "Tamsomething" distilleries, none of which have been very memorable for me.  This one slides nicely into that broad Scotch category of "oh yeh it's fine"  ... without being exciting or memorable.   The nose is at first spicy and woody then comes vanilla latte.  Taste is very creamy and smooth, spiced bread puding with custard or caramel shortbread with fruit. Dry and slightly peppery and some cloves in the finish, vanilla ice cream but mild and muted  Dessert in a glass (without any sugariness).

     
     
    Tuesday, 22 November 2022 13:37

    Manhattan Project: Experiment #76

    Location: Puttery, Houston, TX

    Date: November 2022

    Price: $13.00

    Recipe: Rye, Vermouth, Cynar, Bitters

    Garnish: Lemon Peel

    Served: Up

    Comments: Not a classic Manhatan but a very servicable variation they call the "Colossus of New York"

    What is this about? Check out  http://www.somanywhiskies.com/item/749-the-manhattan-project-ii

    Sunday, 30 October 2022 17:40

    Manhattan Project: Experiment #75

    Location: Cabernet Grill Texas Wine Country, TX

    Date: October 2022

    Price: $11.00

    Recipe: Unknown

    Garnish: Back Cherry

    Served: Single Rock

    Comments: Very good value at but overall a little small and underwhelming and not enough ice

    What is this about? Check out  http://www.somanywhiskies.com/item/749-the-manhattan-project-ii

    Tuesday, 11 October 2022 21:29

    Manhattan Project: Experiment #74

    Location: Beagans 1806 cocktails

    Date: September 2022

    Price: $16.99 for 6 = $2.81 per can

    Recipe: Manhattan in a can

    Garnish: None

    Served: Rocks

    Comments: Very good value but needed help.  I added a shot of Makers Mark and it improved signficantly.

    What is this about? Check out  http://www.somanywhiskies.com/item/749-the-manhattan-project-ii

    Monday, 26 September 2022 14:10

    Manhattan Project: Experiment #73

    Location: Saltgrass Steakhouse, Houston, TX

    Date: September 2022

    Price: $13.00

    Recipe: Balcones Pot Still bourbon, Martini and Rossi sweet vermouth, Benedictine DOM

    Garnish: Black cherry and lemon peel

    Served: Rocks

    Comments: Excellent.  Benedictine is interesting addition to recipe adding herbal and sweet notes.

    What is this about? Check out  http://www.somanywhiskies.com/item/749-the-manhattan-project-ii

    Monday, 15 August 2022 11:05

    Manhattan Project: Experiment #72

    Location: Squable, Houston, TX

    Date: August 2022

    Price: $14.00

    Recipe: Overporoof Bourbon, sweet vermouths, Angostura and orange bitters

    Garnish: Black cherry

    Served: Rocks

    Comments: Very solid example.  Like use of orange and black cherry

    What is this about? Check out  http://www.somanywhiskies.com/item/749-the-manhattan-project-ii

    Monday, 08 August 2022 20:33

    Manhattan Project: Experiment #71

    Location: The Crows Nest, Hotel Captain Hook, Anchorage

    Date: August 2022

    Price: $18:00

    Recipe: Buffalo Trace bourbon, sweet vermouth, angostura bitters

    Garnish: Luxardo cherry

    Served: Up

    Comments: Quite expensive at $18 (at least there is no sales tax in AK)  for a fairly average, standard recipe Manhattan

    What is this about? Check out  http://www.somanywhiskies.com/item/749-the-manhattan-project-ii

    Wednesday, 22 June 2022 16:41

    Manhattan Project: Experiment #70

    Location: Bush Intercontinental Airport, Terminal C

    Date: June 2022

    Price: $14:30

    Recipe: Makers mark, sweet vermouth and angostura bitters

    Garnish: Black Cherry

    Served: Up

    Comments: Very decent Manahttan at a reasonable price (for an airport)

    What is this about? Check out  http://www.somanywhiskies.com/item/749-the-manhattan-project-ii

    Wednesday, 09 March 2022 05:38

    Manhattan Project: Experiment #69

    Location: Perry's, Houston, Texas

    Date: March 2022

    Price: $15

    Recipe:  Redemption Rye, Vya Vermouth, brown sugar / bbq sauce rim

    Garnish: Pork Chops (yes Pork Chop) and Black Cherry

    Served: Up

    Comments: What's not to love... pre meal drink AND amuse bouche!  Pork, cherry and Manhattan works well.

    What is this about? Check out  http://www.somanywhiskies.com/item/749-the-manhattan-project-ii

    Thursday, 06 January 2022 20:56

    Mortlach 12 year old

    The nose on 43.4% expression is very floral with some wheaty breakfast biscuits and spicy notes.  The taste is very smooth with baked spiced apples (maybe even slightly burnt) caramel and honey.  The finish has some slow building heat along with some Bovril (salty / meaty) notes.  Reminded me of good Texas barbeque brisket with strong spice bark.  Overall a ittle too much burnt, salty and bitter notes with not enough sweetness to balance it for me. 

    Whiskies Tried...

    Total to Date: 694

    Distilleries

    Visited to Date: 66

    Follow Me on Twitter!

    Random Whisky

    Edradour Straight from the Cask

    I bought this bottle at the distillery in June 2011. It was a 500 ml bottle and the whisky was 13 years old, finished in a madeira cask and bottled at 56% ABV. The nose was sweet with lots of alcohol and caramel apple and marshmallow notes. The taste was fruity, apples and pears, with lots of sweet notes like caramel, toffee, brown sugar. Also had some biscuit, buttery tastes like a good scottish shortbread. Tammy described it like a girl scout butter cookie. Great aperetif.